Forgot lollipop trees, I'm buying water bottles!

Water bottles! And collector cards! Yes! That's the ticket! This is from a Samhain author desperately trying to sell her book (apparently her publisher doesn't). She earned back half of what she paid. But after tapping out friends and family, now what?

<< So, I placed an ad in the June Issue of Romantic TImes Magazine, because I knew it was the issue they’d be handing out for free all over the place at the RT conference in April. ($440.00) I ordered some collector cards (like bookmarks) and had them stuffed inside some water bottles with my name and website on them to be put into good bags that went out at the same conference. (Design fee, printing and bottles = $181.43 And I paid to have an email blast sent out by Access Romance a community for romance and erotic friendly readers. ($150) >>

http://www.genreality.net/show-me-the-money

LC,

Are you kidding? I thought you did not promote your own books. Why not tell us your website?

LC wrote:

Water bottles! And collector cards! Yes! That's the ticket! This is from a Samhain author desperately trying to sell her book (apparently her publisher doesn't). She earned back half of what she paid. But after tapping out friends and family, now what?

"So, I placed an ad in the June Issue of Romantic TImes Magazine, because I knew it was the issue they’d be handing out for free all over the place at the RT conference in April. ($440.00) I ordered some collector cards (like bookmarks) and had them stuffed inside some water bottles with my name and website on them to be put into good bags that went out at the same conference. (Design fee, printing and bottles = $181.43 And I paid to have an email blast sent out by Access Romance a community for romance and erotic friendly readers. ($150)"

Unbelievable.

alice wrote:

LC,

Are you kidding? I thought you did not promote your own books. Why not tell us your website?

LC is not a Samhain author, Alice.

You are right--my mistake--I answered too fast--before I read.

Alice needs Reading 101.

Quote :

LC is not a Samhain author, Alice.

Yes, LC found real publishers.

The irony, she burns. Apparently a PA author long ago made a lollipop tree, whatever the hell that is (candy for kids to support a children's book?), as part of a book display. It must have been long ago, because the AW folks have been laughing about it for years. Those same AW folks are with marginal presses themselves, and one of them passes out collector cards and water bottles to sell her stuff. LOL, what's the difference?

Popcorn anyone? Munch, munch.

I could never see the difference either. There does not seem to be any.

Water bottles? I thought they drank Kool-Aid.

alice wrote:

I could never see the difference either. There does not seem to be any.

Silly Alice. A water bottle is plastic. Candy is edible.

GOT ME!

This was fun to read. I do take red and white puff mints wrapped in papers to my book signings - for me to eat :-). The kids come over and drag their parents.

I have 1000 business cards for $16.00 that have my book cover on one side with my web site and email address and nothing on the other. I pass them out everywhere. If they attract a reader or two, great; I need a business card to write on now and then anyway. They are pretty, too!

Barnes & Noble prints brochures for their "selected" books. I have picked them up and I like the idea. Cover on page 1, Author bio Page 2, book reviews and quick praise clips on Page 3 and book excerpt continued from page three to page 4 and details and where to buy it on page 4 (8 1/2 x 11 single fold).

Bookmarks used to the "the thing" to give away; shoot, Avatar sells their bookmarks!! I have some classy ones (seen at my web site). Maybe I can sell them.....

My publisher once made book video trailers for each author; but they have increased the number of authors and no longer do the video trailers. We are provided with great posters and advertising materials at publication such as news releases, etc. and review copies sent to reviewers. I note even Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark has 30 second book trailers on tv these days.